Rat-trap.



L. S. TURNBO.

RAT TRAP.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1909. 944,926. V Patented Dc.28,1909.

314mm hm ANDREW. ama cn. Harm-Lumen?EismAsmNci'oN. D4 c.

EINITED STATES PATENT UFFIQE.

LYCURGUS S. TUBNBO, OF MAUI), TEXAS.

RAT-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed January 4, 1909. Serial No. 470,739.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYOURGUS S. TUnNBo, a citizen of the United States,residing at Maud, in the county of Bowie and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rat-Traps; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in traps, and particularly totraps for catching rats, mice and the like, and has for an object theprovision of means for causing the animal to enter the trap after havingonce started to do so.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a trap having achamber for receiving and holding an animal, an intermediate chamber,and an entrance chamber, together with means for closing the entrancechamber after the animal has entered therein, and at the same timeopening the intermediate chamber for permitting the animal to enter fromthe entrance to the intermediate chamber, and from thence to the chamberfor receiving and holding the animal.

lVith these and other objects in View the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection through a trap embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2is a top plan view of the entrance chamber and moving parts that closethe entrance chamber. Fig. 3 is a section through the structure shown inFig. 2 on line 33.

In constructing a trap according to the present invention a housing 1 isprovided having chambers 2 and 3. A partition wall at constructed ofwood or metal is provided in housing 1 for dividing the same intochambers 2 and 3, and secured to the partition wall 4 are a plurality ofrods 5 that converge inwardly toward the center of chamber 2, andconstitute a funnel-shaped passageway. By this construction when ananimal enters into chamber 3 the same may pass on through into chamber 1with little or no trouble, but if attempting to pass back into chamber 2will engage the ends of rods 5 which are preferably sharpened. Also rods5 if desired may be made flexible so that in entering the same may beforced slightly apart, but such action cannot take place if the animalattempts to return that way. A door or lid 5* is provided for chamher 2in order to present means by which the animal may be readily removed. A.door 6 is also provided for chamber 3 for removal of the animal fromthat chamber if it is desired or should become necessary.

Connected with housing 1 is a housing 7 that is formed with a receptionor entrance chamber 8. Mounted in housing 7 is a piv otally arrangedtilting board 9 that at the inner end normally engages a cross board ortop 10 and at the outer end rests against the floor of housing 7. Board9 is pivotally mounted on rod 11 and has arranged below the rod 11 afilling block 12 in order to prevent any escape of the animal beneathboard 9. Board 9 extends outward to near the end of housing 7, and isformed with a groove or runway 13 in which is mounted a ball let that isadapted to fill or close entrance 15 formed in partition 16. A stop 17,proferably of some stiff wire or rod is arranged near the outer end ofboard 9 for preventing ball ll from moving off the board.

As Will be clearly seen from Figs. 1 and 3 ball let remains on one sideof pivot 11 so that board 9 is always over-balanced, except when ananimal has passed through opening or entrance 15 into chamber 8. IVhenan animal has passed into chamber 8 the board is tilted as seen in Fig.3 and ball 14 moves down under gravity and closes opening 15. Ball 14remains in this position until the animal has stepped out of the chamberen trance into the intermediate chamber 3. Immediately upon the removalof the weight of the animal from the inner end of board 9 ball 14 willover-balance the board and move under gravity to the position shown inFig.

animal does not pass through rods 5 but remains in chamber 3 it may beeasily removed through door (3, though ordinarily the movement of theinner end of board 9 upward and the noise of the same striking againsttop 10 would sutliciently frighten the animal to cause it to endeavor toescape toward the front, and in this endeavor would pass into chamber 2from which return is impossible.

Housings l and 7 are preferably made independently of each other, and asstated, housing 1 is preferably made from a wire mesh and housing 7 ofwood, though other material may be used, as for instance the entire trapmay be made from wire mesh or metal and a suitable ball of hollow metalor wood. In housing 7 is formed a plurality of openingslS through whichthe animal may pass in order to take a position upon board 9, or if theanimal prefers he may pass over the sides of housing 7 and then downupon board 9, and from thence into chamber 8. In entering chamber 8after he has entered sufliciently far for his weight to over-balanceball 14, the ball will immediately roll downward and strike against himand frighten him. This fright will be increased by the return movementof the inner end of board 9 after he has entered chamber 3. Thisfrightening of the animal will. cause him to quickly pass through rodsinto chamber 2 where he must remain until removed.

In setting the trap balt may be placed 1n any desired place, in chambers2, 3 or S as may be desired, or in all of the same, though ordinarily alittle bait on the inner end of board 9 will be suflicient.

What I claim is:

In a trap, an entrance chamber, a retention chamber, an intermediatechamber, a partition separating the intermediate and retention chambers,a funnel-shaped resilient passageway carried by the partition andopening into the retention chamber, a pivoted platform, a stop arrangedin front of the intermediate chamber and with which one end of theplatform contacts, a ball for retaining the platform normally inengagement with the stop, and a partition arranged slightly in advanceof the pivotal point of the platform, and provided with an entrancearranged to be closed by the ball when the platform is tilted by ananimal entering the trap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LYCURGUS S. TURNE lVitnesses J. L. MoCLosKEY, IV. I). NELSON.

